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Darvish feels more relaxed after 'so-so' season

ARLINGTON -- Yu Darvish was 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 29 starts for the Rangers last season. He didn't sound particularly thrilled about his season.

"There were some rough times, some good times as well," Darvish said. "Overall, just so-so."

The Rangers might take "so-so" from Darvish every year, especially since he's not sure if he can do better than that.

"Every year is different," Darvish said on Friday night before the Rangers' annual awards banquet. "Physically I'm different, my body is different, the whole year is different. This year, I'll adjust to the way I feel physically and attack the season as if it were a new season."

Darvish, who accepted his Rangers Rookie of the Year Award on Friday, is a month away from beginning his second season in the Majors. It was one year ago that Texas officially announced his signing, and he did admit that he feels more relaxed this offseason. That has helped his preparation, and Darvish doesn't feel as frantically rushed as he did last season.

"Compared to last year, I feel so much more at ease," Darvish said. "After my first year, getting to know the players, the coaches and the front office, I really feel a part of the team. That how I feel right now. It's a totally different feeling."